1. “Wireless microphones are easy to use.”

While wireless microphones give us the freedom from being bound to a cord they can be rather “high maintenance”. Batteries need to be checked and maintained, and frequencies researched for best reception. You often end up dealing with spurious transmissions from other devices (interference), susceptibility to feedback (moving in front of speakers), and more.

2. “You can add as many wireless microphones as you need.”

Each microphone transmitter requires its own receiver. That means each microphone requires its own transmitting channel as well. Depending on the system you chose, you may be limited to only 1 or 2 wireless microphone systems tops. Even the high-end professional systems are limited to around 20, depending on the frequency agility of the system.

3. “You don’t need an Antenna combiner.”

Shoving additional wireless receivers in a rack can cause intermodulation issues (interference from other transmitters/receivers). So, it is necessary to reduce the number of active antennas in order to minimize this. Using antenna combiners or distributors will do the job.

4. “You have to have a FCC (Federal Communications Commission) license.”

You do not need a FCC license in order to use a wireless microphone system. However, please note, that if you are using any older 700 band wireless products you are to cease and desist using these products. This frequency band is now dedicated for private industry and emergency use only. All of the new wireless systems have vacated this frequency band.

5. “Wireless microphones sound as good as a wired microphones.”

Because the wireless microphone audio has to be compressed for radio on the transmission side, and then expanded on the reception side, the frequency response will be somewhat limited. Even though the microphone “cartridge” may be rated for a certain frequency response, there are losses due to the physics of the radio transmission. A corded microphone signal goes directly into the mixer or preamp with virtually no signal loss, and therefore, the best wireless mic will never sound as good as the best wired “corded” microphone.